Tom Kiefer is a fine art photographer who also worked part time as a janitor at a U.S. Customs and Border Patrol processing facility for eleven years. He first became disturbed by the vast amount of food confiscated from the migrants and thrown away. He asked for permission to instead collect it and take it to a food bank. He later became shocked at the amount of personal effects that were deemed non-essential and discarded.

After being apprehended, the belongings of a migrant are supposed to be placed in a property bag or remain in the backpack they traveled with. Sometimes, wallets are discarded or mistakenly left behind when they are transported to various law enforcement facilities. They are deported with no identification.

Different gloves for different reasons. The desert and mountain terrain along the United States/Mexico border varies greatly with cacti and other abrasive plants. During winter months temperatures easily drop below freezing. Many migrants, seeking work in agriculture or the construction industry will bring their personal work gloves. All gloves are considered non-essential personal property and are seized and discarded during the first stages of intake.